MEMORIES
Pictures curated from Ethan’s Instagram account, shared personally, or tagged on instagram.
More memories are added once per week
Ethan!!!
I'm in San Fran, can i crash on your couch?
The answer was always yes, and i suspect it was the same for anyone he knew.
he had the best caffination station.
— Lizanne Fox
My uncle Ethan came to visit a few years ago when I was still in highschool. I had only been around him a handful of times before this, but my parents were going out of town and said that he would be in town and staying at our house while they were gone, with me. I of course was annoyed as I was a teenager wanting the house to myself for the weekend to have some friends over. Well uncle ethan still let me have my friends over, and he stayed up and hung out with us and shared some stories and laughs and even a few a drinks which this was all totally cool of him. one of my friends who had been there was a pretty frequent gym go-er and was flashing his muscles that night, Ethan pulled out his quads and had those boys jaws drop. Hahaha I will always remember Ethan staying with us and I am more than grateful I got to spend time with him in the last few years. May Ethan rest easy and forever ride on.
— Presley Keller
I first started racing at the track in the early summer of 2021. My first-ever race was the screaming sprints back in May. I remember first walking into the velodrome and seeing Ethan hit his flying 200. Ethan's speed. Thinking he was "losing" because of his huge ass gear and then eventually flying past the other person 4 mph faster during a match sprint was really something else, and I don't think I'll ever be able to see anyone else do that. He was the only rider at Hellyer and even outside on the road scene to make my jaw drop. This isn't only about his speed, but I looked up to him as a legend, and he was and still is a huge inspiration to me as a sprinter today. No one else besides him and Mark Cavendish has made me aspire to become a better cyclist, and I think that says something. I shared a few words with him before, and from those short instances, he was a great mentor. He provided me with sprinting tips and was patient and passionate when explaining them. I'll forever miss seeing him rip sprints.
— Kevin Li
I’ll always cherish the memories where I got Ethan to come to art things with me. When we first became friends, after a training session at Hellyer, Ethan reluctantly joined me in an adventure to Target and then the San Jose Art Museum. He complained to me about needing to put his feet up instead of walking around all day, so for some reason we hid from the sun at a children’s playground… 😅 anyways that’s the story of his Strava profile pic, I laugh every time I see it.
Ethan sold me one of his track bikes so I could get started with something that actually fit, converted me into waxing my chains, and taught me how to race smarter and not harder, while also encouraging and supporting me as a friend when I wasn’t racing. I’m glad there was another weirdo who enjoyed making funny cycling kits and memes. Going to the track won’t be the same without his presence, mentorship, and laughter.
Miss you forever, Ethan ❤️
—Sydney Parcell
Dear Ethan,
A pinky promise to you that I will check my nuts before every single ride. Thank you for entrusting me to be your Man1 for many moons. Farewell, my brother XOXO!
Ken
My memory with Ethan is short. Meet him in Carson at the Velo with my brother Josh. I walked down to the pit supporting my brother and met Ethan. Funny and light hearted, seeing my brother share laughter with his team mate is something special because we don’t just open up to anyone. My brother and Ethan always battled with and against each other on the track but the friendship and bond they share is something special. My brother is incredibly important to me and being close with him I knew how special Ethan was to his journey in this sport.
— Chris McDonald
I just want to share how kind, thoughtful and beautiful this man was he will always be in my heart. I was in San Francisco with my girlfriend, and when Ethan learned of this, he rode his bicycle all through the San Francisco hills to come. Give his auntie, a hug, and a kiss just to let me know that he cared, this memory will say engraved in my heart forever about how beautiful he was.
— Jacqueline Kelly
I never met Ethan, but I’d just started taking photos of cyclists a month earlier. The emotion in the photo stood out. During this weekend, with 4 sessions of racing over 2 days, I’d taken 10,000 frames of the best cyclists in N. America. This one stood out among my favorites. I hadn’t looked at these photos in months. This photo was from the 4th session, on Sat night, of the GP.
Unfortunately, I’ll never get to meet Ethan & enjoy the person behind the kindness that everyone has shared. But reminds me that when someone is struggling, hurting, or needing a hand, that I need to also step up and show up for them when I can. From everything I’ve read, this is what Ethan would have done and the cycling community is better for having him as a part of it. He will be missed and most importantly, he will be remembered.
R(ide) I(n) P(eace), Ethan
— Steve Everist
The track community lost one of our own, Ethan Boyes, and our hearts are broken💔. We didn’t know if it was our place to post a tribute because Ethan was a sprinter (and one of the most beautiful bike riders you’ve ever watched) and didn’t race Skunkworks. Skunkworks’ mission is to help build a more inclusive track community and it’s important to recognize the passing of one of its members: a track rider who we loved so much.
— Skunkworks Racing
No matter how long we'd go without talking, I always knew he would be there if he could, he would show up and support in any way that he could, no matter what was going on in his life he would find time for friends. He was so loyal and just so good.
I feel incredibly heartbroken, just devastated. How someone could be so careless and inconsiderate and irresponsible as a driver will never make sense to me. I know many who have lost loved ones to negligent drivers and I'm sick of it. I'm sick to my stomach thinking about how this happened, how we have all so tragically been robbed of this life.
I’m sending all my love to everyone hurting from this loss. 💔
— Nissy Cobb
This picture is my favorite memory of Ethan Boyes. My left arm draping over him as we soak in our last moments together at Manchester Velodrome.
I’m sad he’s now gone, too.
Ethan, Thank you for bringing out the best of me—of all those blessed to be in your presence. You are loved and you will be missed.
Rest in peace, champ.
—Bernard Cobb
Dear Ethan,
May everyone have a friend like you.
The kind who lifts a person up when they’re not sure they’ll ever stand again.
The kind who sees the ones around them so fully and clearly and who offers actions right alongside words of affirmation to show it.
The kind who shows up, always—no questions asked, and without any motive other than compassion and presence.
The kind who, when folks need a reminder of their self worth, checks in with exactly the right words at exactly the right time.
The kind who it is objectively impossible to be grumpy around.
The kind who believes their people to be strong and capable and worthy—and to such a degree that those people believe that truth about themselves moreso, too.
We are all better for having known you, Ethan.
I sure wish we could have had one more meal together. One more race. One more shenanigan. One more laugh over coffee. One more adventure.
I’ll miss you forever buddy. Love you. Be at peace.
— Rya Sipe
I just heard the tragic news of Ethan’s abrupt passing. I wish people took the responsibility of driving a car more seriously. My condolences go out to his friends and loved ones.
He would stop by my shop from time to time and I had the honor of building him a frame in 2017. He was so warm and I was always struck by how unassuming he was considering his world champ status. He had kind of a tongue in cheek humor. I used to write funny quotes people would say to me on my shop oven (2nd picture). I forget the context but it was funny at the time because it was absurd yet he said it in such a matter of fact way. I think he was trying to say don’t take yourself so seriously. Rest in peace, Ethan.
— Andrew Low, Low Bicycles
I only spent one day with Ethan and it is one I’ll never forget. I had been asked by a friend of mine if I was interested in being a substitute rider for a human powered vehicle (HPV) land speed record attempt. I was told by the team manager that due to the bike’s custom dimensions, it’d be great if I could invite some other strong riders. At the time, my only indication of Ethan’s ability was seeing his name on multiple leaderboards of a well-known cycling app. As un-creepy as I could be, I commented on a recent ride of his asking that he email me if interested in joining the test. His email reply was “somewhat interested, enough to ask about more information anyways.” I shared the team contact info and that was that.
Weeks later, I was honestly a little dismayed showing up to try the velomobile and finding Ethan in his kit standing by the rig, quads blocking most of the view. Indeed, his lower half was nearly the reason he couldn’t use the bike at all. He had to twist and slip one hip in at a time to clear his glutes and I recall him saying his calves and quads would rub the frame with every pedal stroke. But as the afternoon went by, it was clear to me and (I think) the team manager that Ethan’s personality, sportsmanship, bike knowledge, and 2-wheel prowess made him the best choice for the record attempt. We all shared laughs in the sun, swapped stories, then parted ways. I later heard from the team manager that due to other issues, they could not participation in that year’s race and I never learned if Ethan was planning to ride the next year’s event. The current record is just over 89 mph. I have no doubt that if Ethan was still here to try, he could have once again redefined what was humanly possible on a bike.
— Geoff Fong
My brother's 1st career was as a classically trained Chef. He trained at a well renowned school but his passion for the culinary arts began as a child. His potato leak gazpacho sous vide techniques were locked in high school.
When he went to do a working interview a famous and elite resort in Ojai, California we weren't surprised when he came home with the job. He only had to prepare a meal from mystery ingredients in 30 minutes against 6 other applicants. Easy enough for him. Four or five courses if I remember correctly: Appetizer, Soup, Salad, Entrée, Dessert. Each Chef had unique ingredients of course and the executives were on hand to watch. The cooking channel sells this as a show these days.
The interview begins. Ethan opens his basket and discovers he has some fish but mostly vegetables and mushrooms. He had nothing that seemed like dessert material. His competitors had steak, pork chops, and other more marketable restaurant fare. E was certain he had no chance. Luck of the draw was not on his side. He persevered.
Unfortunately, he was too quick on the draw. He cooked and plated all his requirements a full 5 minutes before anyone else started to produce their finished products. His dishes sat in the window getting cold as the other Chefs began to put up their work. The executives were not even paying attention to the effort he had put up.
Young Chef Ethan was crestfallen and began to pack his knives. There was a commotion at the kitchen doors. He turned and to his surprise as well as everyone else's a hungry patron had wandered into the kitchen. Muhamad Ali is not the kind of patron that any one likely could have made leave the kitchen hungry either. The Man casually walked right past all the important people judging the food and came to the hot plates on the line. Everyone was rather awestruck to be in his presence and the silence was palpable. Muhamad Ali inspected the food. He put a finger in a sauce and tasted it. Moved on.
The Greatest finally came to Ethan's presentation. He tasted the entrée. He ate it. He continued eating, when he was sated Muhamad Ali picked up the remainder of Chef Ethan's cuisine.
Without a word to anyone two plates in hand he turned and walked out. Ethan got that job.
— Jesse Boyes